DIY Paint?? .... Dupli color etc...??

i just put a body kit on my 2g eclipse and im going to get my car painted a completly different color. My friend offered to paint my car for free i just have to pay for supplies. When i asked how much i should expect to spend on paint etc they said around $800. Then i started thinking how ive never seen any of his paint jobs and im unaware how good he is. I dont want to waste my money. So ive been looking around and came across the dupli color paint shop. Very inexpensive, not top quality but might be good enough for me? Wondering if anybody knows about this or knows how good it actually looks when finished?
thanks

Are you talking about the ready to spray duplicolor paints?

You could buy the shittiest materials and make it look show car, or you could buy the best materials and make it look like you painted it with a brush. Painting a car is 75-80% preparation, experience, and knowing what you're doing, the rest of it is the materials used and how/where you use them. If he's never done it before, I wouldn't trust him with a spray can and my valve cover. Get it done right. You'll be more than happy you did 2 years down the road when the paint still looks new and isn't flaking off.

As much money as you would spend buying enough of that Duplicolor mess to do your whole car, you could buy real paint.

The Duplicolor paint deal he was talking about was an actual shop that uses actual HVLP spray guns, not rattle cans. Best thing you can do dude, is to talk to people that have used the shop and other shops around you before. I know theres a certain Maaco shop around here that really does quality work, but I've also heard of Maaco shops painting over bird shit. I'm sure it works the same for where you live too.

My thought is however, that if you have enough money to buy a body kit you have enough money for a good, reputable, and inherently expensive body shop paint it, or you should be good enough with a spray gun to do a good job yourself. In my absolute honest opinion, body kits look bad enough without the help of a shitty paint job. :2cents: If thats what you're into then by all means have at it, afterall it is your car, but just be sure you do it right.

Definitely spend the cash if you are not going to take the time, be patient and do it yourself to get it right... Ask to see their work, find people that have gone there (they may only show you your best). Make a good invest me.

I painted my my one car (sprayed) myself for under 200 bucks... It's good enough for me and you can't tell unless you get within 1-2 feet of it (you start seeing blemished). It was my second time painting my car spraying (1st time didn't go right) and I spent well over 100 hours on it. To me it was worth it because I improved my skillset. It's not worth it to many people.

Bonus I've roller-ed several cars also you would be hard pressed to tell after the wetsand and polish that it wasn't sprayed... But 90% of my time was spent on prep and final sanding, polishing and waxing...

Invest the time, or invest the money. Either way it's expensive :)

The Duplicolor paint deal he was talking about was an actual shop that uses actual HVLP spray guns, not rattle cans.

I think he was talking about the Duplicolor "Paint shop" brand products, not an actual shop.